Monash Education Research Community (MERC)

The Monash Education Research Community (MERC), is an active network of research students and staff.

Established in 1992, MERC supports the idea that researchers develop best when their intellectual, academic and social needs are addressed through ongoing engagement in a supportive community of learners. On the basis of this philosophy, MERC represents the interests of research students in the faculty, organises seminars, conferences and social events in order to:

• facilitate interaction between staff and students and amongst students
• foster attitudes and actions that contribute to an active and inclusive research culture in the Faculty
• share information relevant to research activities in the Faculty
• support the study experience of students, particularly through provision of ongoing orientation, and facilitate Faculty response to the needs of the students as these arise
• provide a forum for ongoing discussion of researcher-generated questions related to specific aspects of research processes.
• encourage involvement by individuals in a supportive community when otherwise engrossed in independent research

Who can join?

MERC is open to all researchers in the faculty.

Events

• Monthly Meetings
  MERC meetings take place each month (except January, July and December) at Clayton and Peninsula campuses.

• Emerging Researchers Open Seminars (EROS)
  Once a month a current HDR student from Education will present a short seminar on an aspect of their research, for comment and discussion with fellow students.  The aim of these sessions is to encourage interaction between emerging researchers in the faculty and to provide an opportunity for discussion and reflection on current research being conducted at Monash.  Each seminar will consist of a brief 20 minute presentation, followed by discussion and comment, so that students may test ideas, ask questions and seek feedback from others sharing the experience of conducting educational research, in a non-threatening and supportive environment.  For further information on up-coming topics, keep an eye on your email, or contact one of the Clayton convenors.  We hope to see you there.

• Annual Conference
  Each year MERC organises a conference for researchers in the Faculty. This forum is particularly useful for research students as it provides opportunity for them to:
  
  • familiarise themselves with the range of educational research being carried out across the campuses of the Faculty
  • meet with one another and to share academic opinions in a structured conference format
  • canvass multi-disciplinary collaborative projects within the Faculty 
  • practice academic presentation skills

• Annual Invitational Lecture
  Through the Annual Invitational Lecture, MERC invites an outstanding research student who has recently graduated from the Faculty. The Lecture recognises the achievement in, and contribution to educational research of the alumnus speaker. Such a presentation also provides an opportunity for the sharing of reflections and experiences of the speaker's professional transitional life.
  
  Current research students in the audience may also draw some motivation from the talk to further contribute to the advancement of educational research knowledge and/or to the fine-tuning of existing teaching, education and administrative practice.